Glued screens for shale shakers

ABSTRACT

Screens and screen assemblies for a vibratory separator or shale shaker, such screens and screen assemblies made by a method including applying glue in a glue pattern to at least one layer of screening material, said applying done by powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect moving with powered mechanical screen movement apparatus the at least one layer of screening material beneath the powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect, using hot melt moisture-curing glue, and in one aspect facilitating the cure of moisture-curing glue by applying moisture to it.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application.Ser. No. 09/603,531 filed Jun. 27, 2000 which is a continuation-in-partof U.S. application Ser. No. 09/517,212 filed Mar. 2, 2000 which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/454,722 filed onDec. 4, 1999 which is a continuation-inpart of U.S. application Ser. No.09/390,231 filed Sep. 3, 1999; and this application is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/707,277 filed Nov.6, 2000 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.09/183,004 filed Oct. 30, 1998 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,337 on Feb.13, 2001—all of which applications and patents are incorporated hereinin their entirety for all purposes and with respect to all of which thepresent invention claims priority under the Patent Laws.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed to glued screens for vibratoryseparator apparatuses and shale shakers; to methods for making suchscreens; to automated methods for making such screens; to screens madeby such methods; to machines for making such screens, and to vibratoryseparator apparatuses and shale shakers with such screens.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0003] The need for solids control in drilling mud used in hydrocarbonwell drilling is well known in the prior art. Drilling mud, typically amixture of clay and water and various additives, is pumped down througha hollow drill string (pipe, drill collar, bit, etc.) into a well beingdrilled and exits through holes in a drillbit. The mud picks up cuttings(rock) and other solids from the well and carries them upwardly awayfrom the bit and out of the well in a space between the well walls andthe drill string. At the top of the well, the solids-laden mud isdischarged over a shale shaker, a device which typically has a series ofscreens arranged in tiered or flat disposition with respect to eachother. The prior art discloses a wide variety of vibrating screens,devices which use them, shale shakers, and screens for shale shakers.The screens catch and remove solids from the mud as the mud passesthrough them. If drilled solids are not removed from the mud used duringthe drilling operation, recirculation of the drilled solids can createweight, viscosity, and gel problems in the mud, as well as increasingwear on mud pumps and other mechanical equipment used for drilling.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0004] The present invention, in certain aspects discloses a screenassembly with layers glued together by, e.g., heated (then cured)moisture-curing hot melt glue, and methods for producing such gluedscreen assemblies.

[0005] The present invention, in certain aspects, provides a screenassembly made by an automated method according to the present invention.In certain embodiments of such methods moving mechanical apparatuspowered e.g. by electricity or by fluid driven power apparatus (e.g. butnot limited to, apparatus powered by fluid under pressure, e.g., but notlimited to, hydraulic fluid under pressure powering hydraulic pumpsand/or motors) applies glue in a desired pattern to one, two, three ormore layers of screening material. Upon curing, the glue holds togetherscreen assemblies according to the present invention which have one, twoor more layers of screening material, bonded together or not, connectedtogether or not, with or without a lower support structure, and with orwithout side hookstrip mounting apparatus. Any suitable screeningmaterial disclosed herein or disclosed in any patent or applicationreferred to herein may be used. In one aspect screening material is usedsuitable for a screen assembly for screening drilling fluid introducedto a shale shaker that has one or more such screen assemblies. Incertain aspects the glue used for applying a glue pattern is such thatit rests on top of the screening material even in an uncured or un-setstate and does not full through or out from the screening material andrests on it for further steps in the method, or is such that if it doestend to move downwardly through layer(s) of screening material its rateof movement is such that (and it is sufficiently viscous and/or it issufficiently cured) it does not fall out from the screening assembly.

[0006] In certain methods that are automated according to the presentinvention, powered mechanical movement apparatus moves the layer(s) ofscreening material with respect to glue application apparatus. In oneaspect the powered moving mechanical apparatus uses a patterned rollerto apply glue in a pattern to screening material. In another aspect,one, two or a larger plurality of glue nozzles are moved above thescreening material (which itself may be stationary or may be movingbeneath the glue nozzles) to apply the glue in a desired pattern. In oneparticular aspect a plurality of spaced-apart glue dispensers on amanifold are moved above the screening material. In certain aspects themanifold is oscillated with respect to the screening material and, inone aspect, there are two, three or more such manifolds. Any desiredglue pattern may be applied. A screen or screen assembly thus madeaccording to the present invention may, optionally, be mounted to lowersupport, such as a tubular frame, on a strip support, rod support, on alayer of coarse mesh or gridwork, or on a perforated plate or perforatedpiece of sheet metal. Such mounting may be any suitable known methoddisclosed in the art and any suitable known frame, strip support, rodsupport, coarse layer, or perforated plate may be used—including, butnot limited to, those disclosed in any patent or application referred toherein. Alternatively, according to the present invention, hookstripsmay be applied on spaced-apart sides of glued screening material(s).

[0007] In certain aspects of methods according to the present 10invention glue is applied with at least two nozzles so that lines ofglue intersect and, at points of intersection, the glue pattern isstronger (due to the fact there is relatively more glue present at suchpoints) than at points along either glue line where the lines do notintersect.

[0008] The present invention discloses, in at least certain aspects, ascreen made by a method for making a screen for a vibratory separator,the method including placing a substrate or at least one layer ofscreening material below a glue application apparatus, the glueapplication apparatus including a main body and a plurality of movableglue nozzles movably connected to the body, and applying with themovable glue nozzles an amount of glue in a pattern to at least aportion of the substrate or to the at least one layer of screeningmaterial by moving the movable glue nozzles over the substrate or overthe at least one layer of screening material. In one such method inwhich a glue pattern is applied to a substrate, the glue pattern whilestill manipulable is removed from the substrate and is then applied inpattern form to screening material.

[0009] The present invention discloses, in certain embodiments, a screenfor vibrating screen apparatus. The screen has one or more upper layersof screen, screen cloth, and/or mesh. The layer or layers may be mountedon frame apparatus which may include a solid side support on each of twospaced apart sides of the layer(s), or a full four sided screen frame,with or without one or more interior crossmembers such as tubular rodsor hollow tubular members extending between the sides. A strip supportor strips of support material (e.g. flat steel) may be used beneathscreen layer(s). In some aspects, hookstrips are used on opposed sidesor ends of a screen made by a method according to the present inventionso that it can be mounted in a shaker or other separator apparatus. Anyknown hookstrip configuration may be used according to the presentinvention.

[0010] The present invention, in one embodiment includes a shale shakerwith a frame; a “basket” or screen mounting apparatus; one or morescreens according to the present invention as described above and below;and basket vibrating apparatus.

[0011] The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a screenmade by methods for making screens and screen assemblies as disclosedherein for a vibratory separator, the methods including placing at leasttwo layers (in some cases two, three or four layers) of screeningmaterial adjacent one another one on top of the other, introducing anamount of glue to the at least two layers of screening material foradhering at least portions of them together, the amount of glueintroduced to the at least two layers of screening material from one,two or more manifolds each with a plurality of glue dispensing nozzlesor tubes above screen layer(s) moved beneath the manifolds.

[0012] It is, therefore, an object of at least certain preferredembodiments of the present invention to provide:

[0013] New, useful, unique, efficient, non-obvious screens made bymethods for making screens and screen assemblies; screen assemblies withmultiple layers of screening material; screen assemblies with one ormore lower coarse screen members and one or more upper fine screenmembers; such screens with a lower support beneath the screen layersand, in one aspect, with one or more bottom strip members, supportstrips or rods; such screen assemblies with a lower support frame or alower support perforated plate; such screen assemblies in whichscreening material of adjacent screen layers is glued together withglue, e.g. but not limited to, moisture-curing hot melt glue; and shaleshakers or vibratory separators with any such screen assemblies;

[0014] Such screens made by an automated method with powered movingmechanical apparatus for applying heated glue in a pattern to one ormore layers of screening material and, in one aspect, with poweredmechanical apparatus for moving the screen layer(s) beneath the glueapparatus;

[0015] Such screens or screen assemblies made with a gluing system thathas one, two or more manifolds each with a plurality of spaced-apartglue dispensers for applying a pattern of glue to screen layer(s) movingbeneath the manifolds; and, in one aspect, with hot-melt gluesufficiently viscous to stay on a layer or layers of screening materialto cure and glue the layers together;

[0016] A shale shaker or vibratory separator with one or more suchscreens or screen assemblies; and

[0017] Methods of making such screens and machines for making them.

[0018] The present invention recognizes and addresses thepreviously-mentioned problems and long-felt needs and provides asolution to those problems and a satisfactory meeting of those needs inits various possible embodiments and equivalents thereof. To one ofskill in this art who has the benefits of this invention's realizations,teachings, disclosures, and suggestions, other purposes and advantageswill be appreciated from the following description of preferredembodiments, given for the purpose of disclosure, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detail in thesedescriptions is not intended to thwart this patent's object to claimthis invention no matter how others may later disguise it by variationsin form or additions of further improvements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] A more particular description of embodiments of the inventionbriefly summarized above may be had by references to the embodimentswhich are shown in the drawings which form a part of this specification.These drawings illustrate certain preferred embodiments and are not tobe used to improperly limit the scope of the invention which may haveother equally effective or equivalent embodiments.

[0020]FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views of apparatus according to thepresent invention for methods according to the present invention to makea screen according to the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a side view of a roller apparatus for apparatus as inFIG. 1 or 2.

[0022]FIG. 4A is an enlarged front view of part of a pattern roller forapparatus as in FIG. 1.

[0023]FIG. 4B shows a glue bead in cross-section according to thepresent invention.

[0024]FIG. 5A is an end view of a pattern roller according to thepresent invention.

[0025]FIG. 5B is a side view of the roller of FIG.

[0026]FIG. 6A is an end view of a pattern roller according to thepresent invention.

[0027]FIG. 6B is a side view of the roller of FIG. 6A

[0028]FIGS. 7 and 8 are side views of pattern rollers according to thepresent invention.

[0029]FIG. 9 is a top view of a screen according to the presentinvention.

[0030]FIG. 10 is a top view, partially cut-away, of a screen accordingto the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 11 is a side view of a pattern roller according to thepresent invention.

[0032]FIG. 12 is a side schematic view of a system according to thepresent invention.

[0033]FIG. 13A is a top schematic view of part of a system as in FIG.12.

[0034]FIG. 13B is a top schematic view of a system according to thepresent invention.

[0035]FIG. 14 is a top schematic view of a system according to thepresent invention.

[0036]FIG. 15 is a top schematic view of a system according to thepresent invention.

[0037]FIG. 16 is a top schematic view of a system according to thepresent invention.

[0038] FIGS. 17A-17D are top views of glue patterns applied by a systemaccording to the present invention.

[0039]FIG. 18A is a top schematic view of a glue applicator used toproduce a screen assembly according to the present invention.

[0040]FIGS. 18B and 18C are top views of glue patterns according to thepresent invention.

[0041] FIGS. 19A-19D are top views of glue patterns according to thepresent invention.

[0042]FIG. 20 is a top view of a screen assembly component according tothe present invention.

[0043]FIG. 21A is an end view of a rolled up screen component e.g. likethe screen component of FIG. 20.

[0044]FIG. 21B is an end view of a rolled up screen component e.g. likethe screen component of FIG. 20.

[0045]FIG. 22A is a top view of a substrate for glue for a screenassembly according to the present invention.

[0046]FIG. 222B is a top view that shows the substrate of FIG. 22A witha glue pattern according to the present invention deposited thereon.

[0047]FIG. 22C shows the glue pattern of FIG. 22B removed from thesubstrate of FIG. 22A.

[0048]FIG. 22D is an end view that shows the glue pattern of FIG. 22C ina roll.

[0049]FIG. 23A is a side view of a screen assembly according to thepresent invention.

[0050]FIG. 23B is a side view of a screen assembly according to thepresent invention.

[0051]FIG. 23C is a side view of a screen assembly according to thepresent invention.

[0052]FIG. 23D is a side view of a screen assembly according to thepresent invention.

[0053]FIG. 24C is a top view of a screen assembly for a vibratoryseparator according to the present invention.

[0054]FIG. 24A is a top view of a frame of the screen assembly of FIG.24C and FIG. 24B is a top view of screening material of the screenassembly of FIG. 24C.

[0055]FIG. 25 is a top view of a screen assembly for a vibratoryseparator according to the present invention.

[0056] FIGS. 26A-26I are top views of glue patterns according to thepresent invention.

[0057] FIGS. 27A-27D are top views of glue patterns according to thepresent invention.

[0058] FIGS. 28A-28D are top views of glue patterns according to thepresent invention.

[0059] FIGS. 29A-29K are top views of glue patterns according to thepresent invention.

[0060]FIG. 30A is a top view partially cut-away of a screen according tothe present invention. FIG. 30B is an exploded view of the screen ofFIG. 30A.

[0061]FIG. 31 is an end view of a screen according to the presentinvention.

[0062]FIG. 32 is a side cross-section view of screening materialaccording to the present invention.

[0063]FIG. 33 is a top schematic view of a screen assembly according tothe present invention.

[0064] FIGS. 34A-34C are top schematic views of screen assembliesaccording to the present invention.

[0065]FIG. 35A is a top schematic view of a screen assembly according tothe present invention.

[0066]FIG. 35B is a side view and

[0067]FIG. 35C is an end view of the screen assembly of FIG. 35A.

[0068]FIG. 35D is an enlargement of a hookstrip side of the screenassembly as shown in FIG. 35C.

[0069]FIG. 36A is a top view of a screen support according to thepresent invention.

[0070]FIG. 36B is a cross-section view along the length of the screenassembly of FIG. 36A.

[0071]FIG. 37A is a top view of a screen support according to thepresent invention.

[0072]FIG. 37B is a cross-section view along the length of the screenassembly of FIG. 37A.

[0073]FIG. 37C is a side view of the screen assembly of FIG. 37A.

[0074]FIG. 38 is a top view of a screen support according to the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS PREFERRED AT THE TIME OF FILING FOR THISPATENT

[0075]FIG. 1 shows a system 1100 according to the present invention formaking a screen 1102 according to the present invention by a methodaccording to the present invention. As shown the system 1100 produces ascreen 1102 which includes a lower coarse mesh or screen 1004, anintermediate mesh or screen 1106, and a top mesh or screen 1108. Any oneof these meshes (or screens) 1104, 1106, 1108 may be deleted.Alternatively one or more additional mesh layers may be added.

[0076] The coarse mesh 1104 is initially wound on a roller 1111 fromwhich it is unwound and passes over a rotating roller 1113. From theroller 1113 the coarse mesh moves to a position beneath a gluing station1120 where heated glue in a pattern is applied on the coarse mesh 1104.In one aspect the coarse mesh is 19 mesh made of wire with a diameter ofabout 0.126 inches. Of course any suitable mesh may be used.Sufficiently viscous hot melt glue is used which does not pass throughand away from the mesh to which it is applied.

[0077] A pattern roller 1130 applies a layer of glue in a desiredpattern onto the coarse mesh 1104. Glue 1140 from a reservoir/manifold1150 flows to a space forming a “pond” of glue between a first roller1115 and a transfer roller 1117. Either or both of these rollers may bea heated roller as is well known in the art. Alternatively, or inaddition to heat from a heated roller or rollers, hot air from anoptional heater H may be blown at the roller(s) and/or at the “pond”,and/or it may heat the glue in the reservoir/manifold 1150. The transferroller 1117 rotates counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 and the firstroller 1115 rotates clockwise; thus a film of glue is deposited on theouter surface of the transfer roller 1117 which film, in turn, contactsparts of a pattern in or on an outer surface of the pattern roller 1130which rotates clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1. The film on the patternparts of the pattern roller 1130 is applied in the pattern onto thecoarse mesh 1104 moving beneath the pattern roller 1130. In anotheraspect, glue is applied on top of a combination of two, three, or moremeshes prior to entering between the rollers 1161 (rather than on top ofthe coarse mesh when it comes off the roll 1111). In another aspect, theglue is applied only to the mesh from either the roll 1109 or the roll1107.

[0078] An adjustable roller 1121, whose tension against the mesh isadjustable by moving the roller up/down, supports the coarse mesh 1004with glue thereon. The coarse mesh 1104 with glue thereon in a desiredpattern determined by the pattern on the pattern roller 1130 advances toa pressing station 1160. The intermediate mesh 1106 is fed betweenrollers 1161 and 1162 of the pressing station 1160 from a roll 1107 asis the top mesh 1108 from a roll 1109.

[0079] Between the rollers 1161, 1162, the three meshes are pressedtogether and the glue is pressed between all three meshes to bond themtogether. Optionally, coolant fluid from a coolant reservoir 1170 ispumped with a pump 1171 through one or both of the rollers 1611, 1162 tocool the mesh combination passing between the rollers 1161, 1162. Thefinished screen 1102 (including all three meshes and glue) exit frombetween the rollers 1161, 1162. Optionally, a fan or fans and/or airmovers or other cooling device(s) 1174 may be used to cool the screen1102. In one aspect moisture-curing hot melt glue is used (e.g. but notlimited commercially available Henkel R183B hot melt glue) and water isapplied to the hot glue to facilitate the moisture-curing; e.g. water ispoured, sprayed and/or misted onto the glue in combined and gluedtogether layers of screening material.

[0080] The various meshes for the screen 1102 may be fed through thesystem 1100 by hand and the finished screen 1102 may be pulled by handfrom between the rollers 1161, 1162 and/or one or more of the rollers inthe system may be a driven roller, rotated by a motor appropriatelyconnected to the roller for rotating it with desired speed and torque(e.g., but not limited to, motors 1164, 1165 driving rollers 1161,1162). A suitable gearing system may be used interconnecting the motorand roller. In certain aspects one or more of the rolls and/or roller(s)are drive rolls and/or rollers which are rotated so that the mesh ismoved through the system at a speed of between twenty and sixty feet perminute. In other particular aspects, the speed is about ten feet perminute. Any or all of the rolls and/or rollers may be coated withpolytetrafluorethylene and/or plastic, ceramic, or cermet material. Byadjusting roll and/or roller rotation speed, e.g. with suitable brakeand/or drag apparatus, tension can be maintained on the mesh or meshesto keep it or them sufficiently taut while moving through the system.Motor Systems M represent (schematically) rotating systems for the rollsand/or rollers. Any, some, or all of the systems M may be deleted.

[0081] Optionally, the finished screen 1102 may be wound onto a drum orroller 1179.

[0082]FIG. 2 shows a system 1100 a like the system 1100 of FIG. 1 andthe numerals indicate like components and similar glues may be used. Thesystem 1100 a does not have the gluing station 1120; but has a gluingapparatus for applying a desired pattern of glue to the coarse mesh 1104that includes a glue reservoir/manifold 1125 from which glue is suppliedto a plurality of glue nozzles 1126 (three shown). According to thepresent invention, a sufficient number of nozzles are used sufficientlyspaced-apart and positioned to create a desired glue pattern of heatedglue on the coarse mesh 1104. The resulting screen 1103 is like thescreen 1102 and optional parts of the system 1100 may be used in thesystem 1100 a. Other features of the system of FIG. 2 may be included inthe system 1100 a.

[0083] In other embodiments, a fine mesh is unwound from the roll 1111and fine, finer, or coarse mesh or meshes are unwound from the rolls1107 and 1109.

[0084]FIG. 3 shows one embodiment for a pressing station 1167, like thepressing station 1160, with rollers 1168 and 1169. A spring 1166 biasedbetween a support member 1155 and a roller shaft mount 1164 yieldinglyurges the roller 1168 against a multi-mesh combination 1105.

[0085] The meshes 1104, 1106, and 1108 may be any mesh or screendisclosed herein. The glue 1140 may be any suitable glue, including, butnot limited to, polyethylene glues and hot melt glues at a suitabletemperature for flowing to and from a reservoir/manifold and onto amesh, e.g., but not limited to at about 250° F., between 250° F. and400° F., or at other suitable temperatures for the particular glue beingused.

[0086]FIGS. 5A and 5B show a pattern roller 1180 useful as the patternroller 1130 of the system 1100 in FIG. 1. Raised portions 1181 on anexterior surface 1182 of the pattern roller 1180 form the desiredpattern for applying glue to a mesh. The roller 1180 is solid with endshafts 1183 for mounting to suitable supports for rotation. Any patternroller disclosed herein may be solid with end shafts like the end shafts1183. Alternatively, recesses, holes, or indentations in one or bothends of the roller may be used to mount the roller to an appropriateshaft, mount, or support. Any of the pattern rollers disclosed herein,and any other roller used in systems according to the present invention,including, but not limited to systems as in FIGS. 1-3, may be coatedwith polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0087]FIGS. 6A and 6B show a roller 1180 a like the roller 1180, butwith a bore 1184 through the roller from one end to the other. Such abored roller or “sleeve” may be installed on a common shaft or rollerpositioned as is the pattern roller 1130 in FIG. 1. With a plurality ofsuch sleeves with different patterns thereon, changing the system toproduce a different glue pattern is greatly facilitated. Also, a worn ordegraded sleeve is easily removed and replaced. Such sleeves alsofacilitate clean-up of the system.

[0088] It is within the scope of this invention for the roller 1180 (andany roller according to the present invention) to include only theraised portions 1181 with no body or structure therebeneath nor betweenpattern components so that the portions 1181 and ends of the roller notonly define a pattern but also form a perforated tube or sleeve. Such atube or sleeve may be made from a piece of solid stock by machiningand/or laser cutting. Any pattern for a roller described herein may beformed by grooves or recesses in a roller surface rather than by raisedportions on a roller surface.

[0089]FIGS. 7 and 8 present pattern rollers with patterns or raisedportions different from that of the patterns of the rollers of FIGS. 5Band 6B. The rollers of FIGS. 7 and 8 may have any of the options of therollers of FIGS. 5B and 6B (including, but not limited to end shafts1183 and bore 1184, or a perforated tube structure). A roller 1185 inFIG. 7 has raised lines 1186 that define a pattern across the roller. Aroller 1187 in FIG. 8 has raised portions 1188 and 1189 that define apattern across the roller.

[0090]FIG. 9 shows a screen 1190 produced with a system like the system1100 (FIG. 1) using a roller like the roller 1185 (FIG. 7). FIG. 10shows a screen 1192 with a glue layer 1193 according to the presentinvention produced with a system like the system 1100 (FIG. 1) using aroller like the roller 1187 (FIG. 8). The screen 1192 is like thescreens disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,421 (incorporated fully hereinfor all purposes), but made with a system according to the presentinvention and by a method according to the present invention. The screen1192 has three layers of mesh or screening material 1156, 1157 and 1158and a lower perforated plate 1154. Any of the layers of mesh may bedeleted and the glue 1193 may be applied on top of any of the layers. Inone aspect the plate 1154 is deleted. In one aspect the plate 1154 isdeleted and any other support is used. The screen 1190 is like a screendisclosed in U.S. Patents Des. 366,040 (incorporated fully herein forall purposes) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,159 (incorporated fully herein forall purposes). An optional frame 1190 a is used around the screen 1190.

[0091]FIG. 4A shows an enlargement of part of a pattern roller 1196according to the present invention which is similar to the roller 1180(FIG. 5B), but which has valleys, recesses or grooves 1197 in raisedportions 1198 of the roller. Glue is received within the grooves 1197 sothat a relatively higher or thicker level or bead of glue is applied toa mesh by the roller as compared to the layer or film of glue applied bya roller like the roller 1180. Any raised portion of any rollerdisclosed herein may include such a valley recess, or groove to increasethe amount of glue applied on a mesh. In one aspect the grooves 1197 arebetween about one-thirtysecond to one-sixteenth inches deep and in oneparticular aspect are about one-sixteenth of an inch deep. Viewed on endin cross-section the grooves may be V or U shaped, square-shaped,trapezoidal, or semicircular. Optionally the roller 1196 has a borethrough it (like the bore 1184, FIG. 6B) and holes are provided throughthe roller so that the roller's interior is in fluid communication withthe grooves via the holes and glue can be flowed or pumped from theroller interior to the grooves to provide the glue for the pattern to beapplied to the mesh. Alternatively, in embodiments in which the groovesare not used, holes are provided through the roller through the raisedportions of a patterned surface. FIG. 4B shows a cross-section of oneglue bead's B profile applied to a screen S with a pattern roller havinggrooves in raised portions of the pattern. The distance “a” is, in thisembodiment, about one-sixteenth of an inch. Preferably the distance “b”is as thin as possible. It is within the scope of this invention toprovide partial grooves or recesses in only a portion of the raisedportions of a pattern rollers surface, e.g., but not limited to, only tothe outer edges or only to the center, only to the edges and center, oronly to certain spaced-apart portions on the roller to create a seriesof strips on the screen.

[0092]FIG. 11 shows a pattern roller 1200 according to the presentinvention which has raised pattern areas 1201 for forming a series ofstrips of glue on a screen or mesh or combination of layers thereof,including, but not limited to, a series of strips. It is within thescope of this invention to use an appropriately configured patternroller to form any series of strips (like any series of strips disclosedherein for a screen or panel) on a screen or mesh with glue as describedabove. It is also within the scope of this invention for the areas 1201or parts of them to have grooves around their entire surface (grooves orrecesses as described above) or in part of the surfaces. Such a rollerwith or without grooves may also have holes as described above forintroducing glue from the interior of the roller to the grooves and/orto the raised areas. By using a roller like the roller 1200 with onlythe two outer raised portions 1201, two spaced-apart sides can becreated on screen or mesh. By turning a piece of such screen or meshninety degrees and feeding it again through a gluing system according tothe present invention, two additional spaced-apart sides are created sothat all four sides of the screen or mesh are glued.

[0093] The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but notnecessarily all, embodiments a method for making a screen assembly for avibratory separator, the method including placing at least two layers ofscreening material adjacent one another one on top of the other,introducing an amount of glue to the at least two layers of screeningmaterial for adhering at least portions of them together, the amount ofglue introduced to the at least two layers of screening material from aroller with a patterned surface thereon so that the amount of glue isintroduced to the at least two layers of screening material in a patterncorresponding to a pattern of the patterned surface of the roller, theroller rotatably mounted adjacent the screening material. Such a methodmay include one or some (in any possible combination) of the following:wherein the at least two layers of screening material is three layers ofscreening material; wherein the at least two layers of screeningmaterial includes at least a first layer and a second layer, the firstlayer comprising coarse mesh and the second layer comprising fine meshor vice versa; wherein the at least two layers of screening materialcomprises at least a first layer and a second layer, the first layerwound onto a first roll and the second layer wound onto a second roll,and the method also including unrolling the first layer from the firstroll and unrolling the second layer from the second roll to place thelayers adjacent each other; wherein prior to placing the layers adjacenteach other the amount of glue is applied on the first layer; wherein theamount of glue is applied after the at least two layers of screeningmaterial are adjacent each other onto a topmost layer of the at leasttwo layers; wherein the patterned surface comprises raised portions onthe roller; wherein the raised portions have a groove therein forholding glue to be applied to the screening material in a pattern with araised bead portion; wherein the roller with the patterned surface is afirst roller and a second roller rotatably mounted adjacent the firstroller receives glue from a glue reservoir and applies the glue onto thefirst roller; wherein a third roller is rotatably mounted adjacent thesecond roller so that a pond of glue is maintained between the secondroller and the third roller and glue from the pond of glue is moved bythe second roller to the first roller; wherein glue is flowed directlyonto the first roller from a reservoir of glue; wherein the patternedsurface comprises raised portions on the roller and the raised portionshave a groove therein for holding glue to be applied to the screeningmaterial and wherein glue is flowed to an interior of the first rollerfrom a reservoir of glue and wherein the interior of the roller is influid communication with the grooves via a series of holes so that glueis movable from the roller's interior, to the grooves, to the patternedsurface on the roller; the method also including pressing together theat least two layers of screening material and the amount of glue;wherein the at least two layers are pressed together between two opposedrotatable rollers; wherein the glue is a hot melt glue and the methodincludes cooling the glue after it is introduced to the at least twolayers of screening material; wherein at least one of the two opposedrotatable rollers is a driven roller; wherein coolant fluid is pumpedthrough at least one of the two opposed rotating rollers to cool theglue; wherein the at least two layers of screening material include atleast one first layer which is wound onto a first roll and unwoundtherefrom and which is supported on a plurality of rotatable rollers asit is unwound; wherein the roller is a bored roller which has a boretherethrough so that the bored roller is emplaceable over a commonroller; wherein the roller with the patterned surface is a first roller,and at least a second roller is provided with a second patternedsurface, the patterned surface of the first roller different from thepatterned surface of the second roller; wherein each of the first rollerand the at least a second roller have a bore therethrough so that eitherroller is emplaceable on a common shaft to apply its pattern to thescreening material; wherein the first roll and the second roll aredriven rolls; wherein the roller with a patterned surface is a drivenroller; wherein the second roller is a driven roller; wherein the thirdroller is a driven roller; the method also including heating the amountor pond of glue or glue in the reservoir; wherein the first roll and thesecond roll are heated rolls; wherein the roller with a patternedsurface is a heated roller; wherein the second roller is a heatedroller; wherein the third roller is a heated roller; wherein the patternextends over substantially the entire surface of the layers of screeningmaterial; wherein the raised portions with grooves are positioned on thepattern roller so that raised bead portions extend along spaced apartouter edges of the screen assembly. A screen assembly made by any methodaccording to the present invention. A glue pattern produced by a systemaccording to the present invention may be any desired pattern, includingbut not limited to, any pattern of any glue layer or of any panel orframe or series of strips disclosed herein and a pattern roller with acorresponding pattern thereon is used to produce such a pattern.

[0094]FIG. 12 shows a system 1300 according to the present invention forapplying glue in a desired pattern to a screen or screens (or mesh ormeshes) and can be used to produce any screen disclosed herein thatemploys glue or adhesive between two or more layers of screen(s) and/ormesh(es).

[0095] Hot glue for application to screen(s) or mesh(es) or combinationthereof is supplied to nozzles 1301, 1302 from a glue apparatus 1310through lines 1311, 1312, and 1313. Either of the nozzles may bedeleted; or, as in the system of FIG. 2, more than two nozzles may beused. The line 1311 may be a heated line or a heated hose heated byoptional heater apparatus 1319. Any suitable known glue system may beused in systems according to the present invention, including but notlimited to hot glue systems which heat glue and then pump it to a flowline. In one particular aspect BulkMeter Applicators Model 5530, 5540,or 5506 commercially available from the Nordson Corporation of Amherst,Ohio may be used in systems according to the present invention (e.g. forthe apparatus 1310 in the system of FIG. 12).

[0096] From a rotating roll 1304 a sheet of screen or mesh 1306 isunwound from the roll 1304 and moved over an idler roller 1308 to aposition beneath the nozzles 1301, 1302 (or only one of them when one ofthem is deleted). A brake 1303 provides tension on the screen or mesh1306 as it is pulled from the roll 1304. In certain aspects a roll ofwoven wire (screen or mesh) between e.g. 100 to 300 feet in length isrolled from the roll 1304.

[0097] The screen or mesh 1306 with a glue pattern deposited thereon(any glue disclosed herein) moves between a rotating stationary (withrespect to vertical position) roller 1314 and rotating adjustable (withrespect to vertical position) roller 1316. In certain aspects it ispreferred that the rollers 1308, 1314 are as close together as possible.Any roller in the system or roll can be a “driven” roller or roll, e.g.powered by a motor with appropriate gearing, shafts, interconnections,etc., to pull the woven wire (screen or mesh) from the roll 1304. In oneparticular aspect the roll 1338 is a driven roll that pulls the wovenwire from the roll 1304. The driven roll 1304 (or other driven roll orroller) can be rotated continuously as glue is deposited on the screenor mesh; or it can be drivingly rotated at intervals so that a desiredportion of a layer of wire mesh is positioned beneath the nozzle(s) forglue pattern deposition. Following application of the desired gluepattern to the portion of the layer, the roll is again activated toremove the portion with the glue pattern and to position a newun-treated portion beneath the nozzle(s).

[0098] A second screen or mesh sheet 1318 unwound from a rotating roll1320 and, optionally, a third screen or mesh sheet 1322 unwound from arotating roll 1324, are also fed between the rollers 1314, 1316 betweenwhich all the sheets are pressed together. Brakes 1326, 1328 providetension as desired on the rolls 1320, 1324, respectively. Pressure onthe combination of sheets may be adjusted by adjusting the verticalposition of the adjustable roller 1316. It is within the scope of thisinvention to make a screen with any desired number of layers, or sheetsof screening material (screen and/or mesh), including, but not limitedto a final screen product with one, two, three, four, five or morelayers.

[0099] In certain aspects the adjustable roller 1316 is positioned sothat the sheets moving between the rollers 1314, 1316 are bound togetherand part of the sheets are encapsulated in glue of the glue pattern.Either or both of the rollers 1314, 1316 can be a driven roller (e.g.driven with a motor M as in FIG. 1) to pull the various sheets betweenthe rollers from their respective rolls. The rollers may act as heatsinks removing heat from the glue and/or cooling fluid may be circulatedthrough one or both rollers to cool the glue.

[0100] Optionally a screen and/or mesh combination 1330 exiting frombetween the rollers 1314, 1316 may be cut to length as desired with ashear apparatus 1332 including a support 1334 and a shear device 1336;or the combination 1330 may be wound onto a roll 1338.

[0101] In one particular aspect the sheet 1306 is a layer of relativelycoarse wire mesh (and, in certain embodiments, may be any coarse wiremesh disclosed herein); the sheet 1318 is a layer of medium wire mesh(and may be any medium wire mesh, e.g., but not limited, between 20 meshand 250 mesh disclosed herein); and the sheet 1322 is a layer of finewire mesh (and may be any fine wire mesh disclosed herein).

[0102] Any suitable known movement mechanism may be used to move thenozzle or nozzles above a layer of screen or mesh. One movementmechanism 1340 is shown schematically in FIG. 13A and includes a firstbar 1341 at right angles to a second bar 1342 on which is movablymounted a glue nozzle 1344. The second bar 1342 has a finger 1345 thatprojects down into a guide channel 1343 of the first bar 1341. As thesecond bar 1342 moves with respect to the first bar 1341 the finger 1345moves in the guide channel 1343 to guide the movement of the second bar1342. The glue nozzle 1344 moves along the second bar 1342, e.g. a shaft1346 projecting down from a knob 1347 moves in an elongated opening 1348to guide movement of the glue nozzle 1344 with respect to the second bar1342. Appropriate movement of the second bar 1342 with respect to thefirst bar 1341 and simultaneously of the glue nozzle 1344 with respectto the second bar 1342 makes possible the application of a glue bead ina desired pattern on a screen or mesh below the nozzle 1344. One, two,three, four or more glue nozzles may be movably mounted on the secondbar; or a plurality of glue nozzles each with its own movement mechanismmay be used. Alternatively, and for any embodiment disclosed herein, thelayer or layers of screening material may be moved below fixed nozzle(s)to produce a desired glue pattern thereon. For example a portion of aroll of mesh to have a glue pattern deposited thereon is placed on amovable and iridexable table or other suitable support with a nozzle ornozzles mounted thereabove.

[0103]FIG. 13B shows a system 1380 according to the present inventionwith two nozzle movement mechanisms 1381, 1832 (like the mechanism ofFIG. 13A) each with a nozzle AA and a nozzle BB respectively. In onemethod according to the present invention, nozzle AA is moved from theindicated position 1 to a new position 2, depositing a first glue beadon the screen or mesh 1306 (like that in FIG. 12) along a path fromposition 1 to position 2. The nozzle BB is moved (and may be movedbefore the nozzle AA is moved) from its initial position 4 to a newposition 5, depositing as it moves a glue bead on the screen or mesh1306 along the path from position 4 to position 5. The screen or mesh1306 is then moved a predetermined increment (to the right or to theleft as viewed in FIG. 13B) and nozzle AA is moved back to position 1(depositing a new glue bead on the screen or mesh as it moves, the newglue bead spaced-apart from the first glue bead) and, similarly, thenozzle BB moves back to position 4 depositing a corresponding glue bead.

[0104] Alternatively, both nozzles may move on to a subsequent position(instead of moving back to positions 1 and 4, respectively); position 3for nozzle AA and position 6 for nozzle BB. It is within the scope ofthis invention for the nozzles to then move back to their initialpositions following a movement or indexing of the screen or mesh,depositing a new glue bead when traversing the screen or mesh in thereverse direction (or not depositing a glue bead). The position 1 to 2to 3 (nozzle AA) and position 4 to 5 to 6 (nozzle BB) movements can thenbe repeated. Alternatively only one of the nozzles may be used, movingto a second position and, optionally, on to a third position, and,optionally, then back to the second and then the first position.Although the nozzle paths shown in FIG. 13B are substantially straightit is within the scope of this invention for either or both paths to becurved, zig zag, or wavy as viewed from above.

[0105] Typically a deposited glue bead has a width as viewed from aboveof between {fraction (3/64)}ths and {fraction (3/32)}nds of an inch,and, in one particular aspect this width is about {fraction (1/16)}inch. In certain aspects the distance of a glue nozzle above a layerof screen or mesh is between ⅜ inch to ⅝ inch and the nozzle (ornozzles) are moved at a rate of 4 to 6 feet per minute (or the layer ofscreen or mesh is moved below a stationary nozzle or nozzles at thisrate).

[0106]FIG. 14 shows a system 1350 according to the present inventionlike the system of FIG. 12 in which the nozzles 1301, 1302 are initiallypositioned on opposite sides of a stationary portion of a layer ofscreen or mesh 1306. Nozzle 1301 moves from a position A to a position Blaying down a glue bead X and then reverses direction and moves fromposition B to position C laying down a glue bead Y. Simultaneously thenozzle 1302 moves from a position D to a position E laying down a gluebead P and then reverses direction and moves to a position F laying downa glue bead Q. As these movements of the nozzles are repeated a patternR of glue is deposited on the screen or mesh 1306. When the nozzles havecovered the desired portion of the layer of screen or mesh with thedesired pattern, the layer is moved beneath the nozzles so that they arethen positioned above a new layer portion to which the pattern is to beapplied. Once the new portion is correctly positioned, the nozzles beginapplying the glue pattern as before. Alternatively, the screen or meshalso moves below the nozzles as the glue is being dispensed.

[0107]FIG. 15 shows a system 1360 according to the present inventionlike the system of FIG. 12 with a single glue nozzle 1361 that dispensesa glue bead onto the screen or mesh 1306 and moves from a position G, toa position H, then to a position I, to a position J, and then to aposition K. By repeating this cycle of movement a pattern S of glue isapplied to the screen or mesh 1306. When the desired pattern has beenapplied to a portion of the screen or mesh 1306, the glue flow is(optionally) shut-off, the screen or mesh 1306 is moved beneath thenozzle 1361 so that glue may be applied to another portion of the screenor mesh 1306. Alternatively, the layer of screen or mesh 1306 also ismoved beneath the nozzle 1361 as glue is being applied thereto; or, inanother aspect, following nozzle movement (e.g. from points G to H to I)the screen or mesh is moved (e.g. indexed a desired distance) below thenozzle and then the nozzle is moved in a reverse path (e.g. from pointsI to J to K).

[0108]FIG. 16 shows a system 1370 according to the present inventionlike the system of FIG. 12 with a bank of a plurality of glue nozzles1372 and a glue nozzle 1371. The bank of nozzles 1372 applies aplurality of glue beads 1373 to the screen or mesh 1306. The nozzle 1371moves above the screen or mesh 1306 to apply a plurality of glue beads1374, producing a pattern T of glue on the screen or mesh 1306. Eitherthe bank of nozzles is moved with respect to the layer of screen or mesh1306, or the layer is moved below the bank of nozzles, or both. It isalso possible to move the entire bank of nozzles at an angle to thedirection of movement of the layer of screen or mesh 1306. Also, a bankof nozzles may 5 be used on the side of the layer 1306 instead of asingle nozzle like the nozzle 1371.

[0109] FIGS. 17A-17D show possible glue patterns that may be applied bysystems according to the present invention (including, but not limitedto, systems as in FIG. 13, FIG. 13B and FIGS. 14-16). These patterns canbe achieved by appropriate control of rate of movement of the screen ormesh and/or by the rate and/or direction of travel of the nozzle(s). InFIGS. 17A-17D, angle measurements are in degrees (either “°” or “deg”),length measurements are in inches (“inches” or “in” or a number, e.g.FIG. 17A “1.38” is 1.38 inches) and area measurements (“sq. in.”) are insquare inches. It is also within the scope of this invention: tosubstitute any patterning roller described herein for any bank ofnozzles (e.g. but not limited to the bank of nozzles in the system1370); to substitute any patterning roller described herein for anynozzle in any system in FIGS. 12-16; and to use a roller to deposit anyglue bead deposited by any nozzle in any system in FIGS. 12-16.

[0110] As with other systems described herein, the cooling of hot gluedeposited by a nozzle or nozzles can be effected by applying moisture tothe glue and/or by the use of one or more fans or coolers and/or bycirculating cooling fluid through one or more rollers and/or cooledrollers that contact and/or are adjacent hot glue.

[0111] The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but notnecessarily all, embodiments a method for making a screen assembly for avibratory separator, the method including placing a first layer ofscreening material below a glue application apparatus, and applying withthe glue apparatus an amount of glue in a pattern to a portion of thefirst layer of screening material. Such a method may have one or some(in any possible combination) of the following: wherein the first layerof screening material comprises coarse mesh; wherein the first layer ofscreening material is removably wound onto a first rotatable roll, themethod including unrolling the first layer of screening material fromthe first roll and positioning a portion of the first layer beneath theglue application apparatus; wherein a second layer of screening materialis removably wound onto a second roll, the method further includingunrolling part of the second layer from the second roll and positioningthe part of the second layer adjacent part of the first layer to whichglue has been applied, and moving the part of the second layer and thepart of the first layer between opposed rotatable spaced-apart rollersto press together the part of the second layer and the part of the firstlayer to form a pressed together layer of first and second layers ofscreening material; continuously moving the second layer and the firstlayer between the opposed spaced-apart rollers producing a continuoussheet of pressed together screening materials; cutting the continuoussheet of pressed together screening material to form sub-sheets ofpressed together screening material; wherein the amount of glue isheated and the method further including cooling glue in the continuoussheet of pressed together screening material, and winding the continuoussheet of pressed together screening material onto a third roll; whereinthe amount of glue is heated and the method further including coolingglue in the pressed together layer; unrolling part of the third layerfrom the third roll and positioning the part of the third layer adjacentpart of the first and second layers, and moving the part of the thirdlayer and the parts of the first and second layers between the opposedrotatable spaced-apart rollers to press them together to form apressed-together layer of first, second and third layers of screeningmaterial; continuously moving the layers between the opposedspaced-apart rollers producing a continuous sheet of pressed-togetherscreening materials; cutting the continuous sheet of pressed-togetherscreening material to form sub-sheets of pressed-together screeningmaterial; wherein the amount of glue is heated and the method furtherincluding cooling glue in the continuous sheet of pressed-togetherscreening material, and winding the continuous sheet of pressed-togetherscreening material onto a third roll; wherein the amount of glue isheated and the method further including cooling glue in thepressed-together layer; wherein the glue application apparatus includesat least one glue dispensing nozzle and apparatus for providing hot glueto the at least one glue dispensing nozzle for application in thepattern onto the first layer of screening material; wherein the at leastone glue dispensing nozzle is a plurality of spaced-apart gluedispensing nozzles; wherein the glue dispensing apparatus has at leastone glue dispensing nozzle and the method further including moving theat least one glue dispensing nozzle above the first layer of screeningmaterial to form the pattern of glue thereon; wherein the gluedispensing apparatus has at least one glue dispensing nozzle and themethod further including moving the first layer of screening materialbeneath the at least one glue dispensing nozzle to form the pattern ofglue on the first layer of screening material; wherein the gluedispensing apparatus has at least one glue dispensing nozzle and themethod further including moving the at least one glue dispensing nozzleabove the first layer of screening material to form the pattern of gluethereon, and moving the first layer of screening material beneath the atleast one glue dispensing nozzle to form the pattern of glue on thefirst layer of screening material; the first layer is coarse mesh, andthe second layer is medium mesh; the first layer is coarse, the secondlayer is medium mesh, and the third layer is fine mesh; wherein thepattern forms a series of a plurality of adjacent similarly-shapedrepeating closed shaped with an open central area and glue bead sides,said series extending across substantially all the portion of the firstlayer of screening material to which glue is applied in the pattern;wherein each closed shape comprises a four-sided figure as viewed fromabove; wherein the four-sided figure is a parallelogram; wherein theparallelogram has interior angles of about 60°, 60°, 120° and 120°;wherein the four-sided figure is a rectangle; wherein the four-sidedfigure is a square; wherein at least one of the two opposed rotatablespaced-apart rollers is a driven roller; and/or heating the amount ofglue.

[0112] The present invention, therefore, provides in at least certainaspects, a screen assembly made by any of the methods described aboveaccording to the present invention.

[0113]FIG. 18A shows a glue applicator apparatus 1400 which has a mainhousing with appropriate controls, flow lines, etc. as are well known inthe art and two movable nozzle manifolds 1401, 1402 that are movablyconnected to the apparatus 1400 with any known suitable manifoldmovement apparatus. A third nozzle manifold 1403 is secured immovablywith respect to the apparatus 1400. In one particular aspect a scotchyoke cam arrangement may be used to move the manifolds 1401, 1402 withrespect to the apparatus 1400.

[0114] As shown by the arrow 1408 in FIG. 18A the manifolds 1401, 1402oscillate at approximately a right angle to the apparatus 1400, althoughit is within the scope of this invention for them to be positioned sothat they oscillate at any desired angle with respect to the apparatus1400 and with respect to screening material beneath them. An arrow 1409indicates the direction of travel of screening material (including butnot limited to any screening material disclosed herein) beneath thenozzles 1406 of the manifold 1401, nozzles 1405 of the manifold 1402,and nozzles 1407 of the manifold 1403. Any number of nozzles may be usedon any of the manifolds and any number of manifolds may be used,stationary or movable with respect to the apparatus 1400. The manifold1403 may be deleted as may be either or both of the manifolds 1401,1402. The position of the nozzles 1407 may be adjusted with respect tothe manifold 1403 and moved as desired prior to glue application. Oncepositioned they are releasably fixed in place with any suitable fixingapparatus and/or fastener(s).

[0115] In certain particular aspects, an apparatus 1400 has movablemanifolds whose oscillation rate is adjustable from 7 to 200oscillations per minute and whose oscillation width is adjustable up to1.75 inches. The screening material, in certain aspects, is movablebeneath the glue nozzles at between 5 and 30 feet per minute and thenozzles of the movable manifolds are on 1.65 inch centers (i.e., nozzlecenters are 1.65 inches apart from each other). In certain aspects thetips of the nozzles (on all manifolds) are adjustable up and down sothat nozzle-tip-to-screening material distance is adjustable betweenone-quarter inch to one-inch. The spacing of the nozzles of the manifold1403 can be adjusted as desired. Control apparatus CA can automaticallyor as desired provide glue flow to or shut-off glue flow to any nozzleor any number of selected nozzles, e.g., but not limited to, every othernozzle. Also, either of the movable manifolds may be used in astationary mode while the other oscillates. In certain particularaspects the glue beads for the screens of FIGS. 18B-19D are aspreviously described herein or they are between 0.012 to 0.05 squareinches (in cross-sectional area) when applied to screening materialmoving beneath the glue nozzles at between five to fifteen feet perminute or between 0.007 to 0.05 square inches with material movingbetween fifteen to thirty feet per minute.

[0116] Particular glues that may be used for the glue beads are knownPUR glue and known EVA glue.

[0117]FIG. 18B shows a glue bead pattern 1410 applied by an apparatus asin FIG. 18A (or by one of the apparatuses previously discussed above).The lines in FIG. 18B indicate the center of linear glue beads and anyglue bead disclosed herein may be employed. The screen with such linearglue beads may be sheared by shearing down the length of the glue beadeither manually with a shearing device, knife or scissors or with anappropriate shearing apparatus. The distance “a” is the distance betweenadjacent horizontal vertices (as viewed in FIG. 18B) of the plurality ofparallelograms 1411 and the distance “b” is the distance betweenadjacent vertical vertices (as viewed in FIG. 18B) of the parallelograms1411. Letter “c” indicates a radius of curvature for a curve portionindicating a change in glue bead direction. In one particular glue beadpattern according to the present invention the distance “a” is about2.90 inches; the distance “b” is about 1.65 inches; and “c” is 0.13inches.

[0118]FIG. 18C shows a glue bead pattern 1412 applied by an apparatus asin FIG. 18A (or by one of the apparatuses previously discussed above).The lines in FIG. 18C indicate the center of linear glue beads (any gluebead disclosed herein may be employed for these beads). The distance “d”is the distance between adjacent horizontal vertices (as viewed in FIG.18C) of a plurality of parallelograms 1413 and the distance “e” is thedistance between adjacent vertical vertices (as viewed in FIG. 18C) ofthe parallelograms 1413. Letter “f” indicates a radius of curvature of acurve indicating a change in direction of a glue bead. In one particularglue bead pattern according to the present invention the distance “d” isabout 1.90 inches; the distance “e” is about 3.30 inches; and “f” is0.13 inches. It is within the scope of certain embodiments of thisinvention for the radius of curvature (e.g. dimension “c” or “f”) torange between 0.01 inches and 3 inches.

[0119] As with the arrow 1408, FIG. 18A, the arrow 1414 in FIG. 18Cindicates the direction of movement of the movable nozzle manifolds toproduce the pattern 1412 (and the pattern 1410, FIG. 18B). Withappropriate settings for the speed of movement of screening materialbeneath the manifolds of the apparatus 1400 and appropriate speed ofmovement of the movable manifolds a desired glue bead pattern may beproduced.

[0120]FIG. 19A shows screening material 1420 to which has been applied aglue bead pattern 1425 using an apparatus according to the presentinvention, including, but not limited to an apparatus like the apparatus1400, FIG. 18A or any other apparatus disclosed herein. It is to beunderstood that any desirable glue bead pattern could, according to thepresent invention, be applied to the screening material 1420. Lines1421, 1422, 1423, and 1424 indicate the center line of linear a gluebeads applied, e.g., by a manifold like the manifold 1403, FIG. 18A,with four glue nozzles (or a manifold with more than four nozzles, butwith only four of them operative for this method). Alternatively,according to the present invention, the glue beads whose centers are thelines 1421-1424 may be applied before or after the screening material1420 is fed beneath the movable nozzles that produce the pattern 1425(which is to be understood as extending across substantially all of thescreening material 1420 although shown only partially on three sectionsthereof in FIG. 19A).

[0121] The lines 1421-1424 are shear lines along which the screeningmaterial 1420 may be cut following glue pattern deposition therebyproducing three sheets of glue-patterned screening material each ofdesired width “g”. Thus three sheets are produced (of any desiredlength) which each has a glue bead along its spaced apart sidesfollowing shearing of the screening material along the lines 1421-1424.In one particular aspect the distance “g” is about 11.75 inches and thedistance “h” is about 1.38 inches.

[0122]FIG. 19B shows screening material 1426, like the screeningmaterial 1420, with entire glue beads 1427-1429, 1439 illustrated, eachwith a shear line down the glue bead. FIG. 19C shows the screeningmaterial 1426 also with vertical (as viewed in FIG. 19C) spaced-apartglue beads 1430, 1431 with shear lines 1432, 1433. With such beads 1430,1431 screening material sections are produced with ends having a gluebead edge, e.g. as the ends 1434, 1435 of the section 1436. Thescreening material 1426 has a glue bead pattern 1438 which may be anysuitable glue bead pattern and may be any glue pattern disclosed herein.The glue beads 1430, 1431 may be applied with any suitable apparatus asdescribed above. Alternatively they may be applied manually. Any gluebead disclosed herein may be applied manually to a substrate or toscreening material.

[0123] Although FIGS. 19A-19C illustrate a method in which three screensub-sections extend across the width of the initial sheet of screeningmaterial, it is within the scope of this invention to produce one, two,four, five, or more screens from one initial width of screeningmaterial. FIG. 19D illustrates screening material 1440 which has a gluepattern 1442 applied thereto according to the present invention. Threeglue beads (not shown in their entirety) each have a shear line 1443,1444, 1445. Upon shearing of the screening material 1440 along the shearlines 1443-1445, two screen sections 1446, 1447 will be produced. In oneparticular aspect the distance “i” is about 2.50 inches; the distance“j” about 16.50 inches; and the distance “k” about 38 inches. Anypattern may be used for the glue pattern 1442. It is within the scope ofthis invention to apply glue beads to form glued screen section ends aswith the glue beads 1430, 1431 in FIG. 19C.

[0124] Screening material and/or a substrate on which glue is to bedeposited (either manually with a glue gun or other dispenser, or byautomated glue application apparatuses as described herein) may be movedbeneath such apparatus or dispenser at a movement rate between 6 inchesper minute and 50 feet per minute. In certain other embodiments thisrate is between 5 feet per minute and 30 feet per minute.

[0125] In other embodiments of the present invention a glue pattern isapplied to a substrate other than a screen or mesh or combination ormultiple thereof. In certain embodiments the glue pattern on thesubstrate remains on the substrate and the glue/substrate combination isused with or on one or with, on, or between more than one layer ofscreen or mesh to form a screen assembly. In other embodiments the gluepattern, e.g. in a cured, semi-cured, or incompletely cured state, isseparated from the substrate and applied between, to or on a layer orlayers of screen and/or mesh to form a screen assembly. It is within thescope of this invention for such embodiments to employ any suitableglue, including but not limited to thermoplastic and/or thermosettingglues. Any suitable substrate may be employed, including but not limitedto, paper, cardboard, kraft paper, wax paper, waxed cardboard, releaseliner material, and material from which glue is separable withoutdeforming or destroying the glue and without adversely affecting adesired glue pattern; and such material may be used within a roll ofscreening material glued according to the present invention to preventthe screening material from adhering to itself within the roll,particularly within a roll of screening material in which glue, e.g.,hot melt moisture-curing glue is continuing to cure.

[0126] In certain embodiments a sheet or piece of a glue/substratecombination or a glue pattern separated from a substrate is formed intoa roll of material (with glue to the outside or glue to the inside whenthe substrate is included) which is then used in the formation of ascreen assembly. A glue/substrate combination or separated glue patternaccording to the present invention may, according to the presentinvention, be used to make a screen assembly in any known manner inwhich pressure and/or heat is applied to a combination of one or more ofthem with one or more layers of screen and/or mesh.

[0127]FIG. 20 shows a glue/substrate combination 1450 with a papersubstrate 1452 and a glue pattern 1454 deposited thereon (e.g. by anyapparatus and by any method disclosed herein, by hand, or by anysuitable machine or apparatus; using any glue suitable for sue in ascreen assembly for a vibratory separator). Alternatively the patternmay be any desired pattern including any pattern disclosed herein, withor without edges and/or with or without one or more shear lines of glue.

[0128]FIG. 21A illustrates a roll 1451 of the glue/substrate combination1450 of FIG. 20. As shown the roll is rolled with the substrate on theroll's exterior and the glue pattern disposed internally of the roll;but it is within the scope of this invention for the position of thesecomponents to be reversed (as is true of any roll of material accordingto the present invention), e.g. as shown in FIG. 21B. Such a roll (andany roll of material described herein) may be unrolled for subsequentuse. In certain aspects, as needed, such a roll of material may beheated to facilitate its unrolling.

[0129]FIG. 22A illustrates a piece of release liner material 1462 (orwax paper or waxed cardboard) to which a glue pattern is to be applied.FIG. 22B shows a resulting glue pattern 1464 applied to the releaseliner material 1462. FIG. 22C shows the resulting layer of glue pattern1464 after it has been separated from the substrate of release linermaterial 1462. The layer of glue pattern 1462 may be used flat as shownin FIG. 22C; or as shown in FIG. 22D it can be rolled into a roll 1461for further future use.

[0130]FIG. 23A shows a screen assembly 1470 according to the presentinvention with a glue pattern 1474 according to the present inventionthat has been separated from a substrate to which it was previouslyapplied. The glue pattern 1474 has been applied onto a layer (or layers)of screening material 1473. According to the present invention the gluepattern 1474 (any glue pattern according to the present invention) maybe pressed onto and/or into the screening material 1473 and/or heat maybe applied to the combination of glue pattern and screen layer to fuseand/or connect the two together and/or to impregnate the screeningmaterial 1473 with some or all of the glue pattern 1474. The screeningmaterial 1473 may be any screen, screens, mesh, or meshes, or anycombination thereof. The glue pattern and screen layer(s) may be pressedtogether in any suitable manner; e.g., but not limited to, between dualopposed pressing rollers, by a flat plate (heated or not) placed on topof the combination; and/or between the flat plates of a press apparatus.

[0131]FIG. 23B shows a screen assembly 1480 according to the presentinvention which has a glue pattern layer 1484 (like the glue pattern1474, FIG. 23A or any of its alternative versions) between two screenlayers 1483, 1485 (each like the screen layer 1473, FIG. 23A or any ofits alternative versions). FIG. 23C illustrates a screen assembly 1490with two glue pattern layers 1494, 1496 (each like the glue patternlayer 1474, FIG. 23A, or any of its alternative embodiments). A screenlayer 1493 (like the screen layer 1473, FIG. 23A or any of itsalternative embodiments) is disposed between the glue pattern layers1494, 1496. The components of the screen assemblies of FIGS. 23B and 23Cmay be heat treated and/or pressure treated as are the components of thescreen assembly 1470, FIG. 23A, as described above.

[0132]FIG. 23D shows a screen assembly according to the presentinvention with a screening material layer 1499 on either side of whichare glue pattern layers 1495 and 1497. Each glue pattern layer has notbeen separated from a substrate 1492, 1498 respectively on which theglue pattern layers have been previously deposited. The screeningmaterial layer 1499 may be any screening material disclosed herein. Thesubstrates 1492, 1498 may be any substrates disclosed herein. In oneparticular embodiment the substrates are suitable cardboard releasematerial (e.g. waxed) which serves as a protective cover or package(with ends appropriately folded over and/or sealed) for the resultingscreen assembly. Such cardboard may be sized and of such a nature towithstand any heat treatment and/or pressure treatment to theglue/screening material combination.

[0133] It is within the scope of this invention for any screen assemblydescribed herein that includes a glue pattern layer to include asubstrate on which the glue pattern layer is formed. The substrate issubsequently removed from the resulting screen assembly by peeling itaway, by burning, by chemical degradation (chemical applied with orwithout pressure) or by liquid (e.g. water) blasting. In any embodimentof a screen assembly herein that employs a glue/substrate combination inthe screen assembly, the substrate side or the glue pattern side may beon the exterior on either top or bottom (or both) of the screenassembly. It is also within the scope of this invention for thesubstrate to include multiple layers of similar or different material.Also, any glued screen layer or layers may be rolled up into a rollaccording to the present invention with a separator sheet or releaseliner material under the layer or layers so that screen does not touchscreen in a resulting roll of screening material. When curing glue is insuch a roll, using such a separator or liner prevents undesired gluingtogether of screening material within the roll.

[0134] “Screening material” for any screen or screen assembly disclosedherein may be any screening material(s) and/or layer(s) disclosed orreferred to herein and it may, optionally, be corrugated following glueapplication. Such corrugation may be in the form of any corrugatedscreen disclosed in the prior art for use on vibratory separators orshale shakers.

[0135] The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for making a screen for avibratory separator (e.g. but not limited to a screen assembly for ashale shaker for treating drilling fluids), the method including placingat least one layer of screening material below a glue applicationapparatus, the glue application apparatus including a main body and aplurality of movable glue nozzles movably connected to the body, andapplying with the movable glue nozzles an amount of glue flowing fromthe glue nozzles in a pattern to at least a portion of the at least onelayer of screening material by moving the movable glue nozzles over theat least one layer of screening material. Such a method may include oneor some of the following, in any possible combination: wherein the glueapplication apparatus includes at least one glue nozzle securedimmovably to the main body, the method including applying with the atleast one glue nozzle secured immovably to the main body at least oneshearable glue bead having a length to the screening material so thatshearing the screening material along the length of the at least oneshearable glue bead produces separate sections of the screeningmaterial; shearing the screening material along the length of the atleast one shearable glue bead; wherein the at least one glue nozzlesecured immovably to the main body is a plurality of spaced-apart gluenozzles, each for applying a separate shearable glue bead to thescreening material, the method including applying a plurality ofspaced-apart shearable glue beads to the screening material; shearingthe screening material along the length of each of the plurality ofspaced-apart shearable glue beads producing a plurality of separatesections of screening material; wherein the at least one shearable gluebead is sheared into two bead portions, each bead portion at an edge ofa resulting separate section of the screening material; wherein each ofthe plurality of spaced-apart shearable glue beads is sheared into twobead portions, each bead portion at an edge of a resulting separatesection of the screening material; wherein the at least one shearableglue bead is a plurality of at least four spaced-apart shearable gluebeads in two spaced-apart pairs of glue beads so that shearing along thelength of the at least four spaced-apart glue beads produces at leastone four-sided screen with a portion of each glue bead along an edge ofeach of the four sides of the at least one four sided screen, the methodincluding shearing along the length of all four glue beads to producethe at least one four sided screen; wherein the plurality of at leastfour spaced-apart shearable glue beads is a plurality of spaced-apartshearable glue beads of sufficient number to produce from the screeningmaterial a plurality of four-sided screens by shearing each of theplurality of spaced-apart shearable glue beads, the method includingshearing along the length of all spaced-apart shearable glue beads toproduce the plurality of four-sided screens; continuously moving the atleast one layer of screening material beneath the glue applicationapparatus; wherein the rate of movement of the at least one layer ofscreening material beneath the glue application apparatus is between 5feet per minute to 30 feet per minute; and/or connecting the resultingscreen or screen assembly to one or more frame members or stripsupport(s) with or without one or more hookstrip edges or other mountingstructure.

[0136] The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for making a glue pattern for ashale shaker or other vibratory separator, the method including placinga substrate material below a glue application apparatus, the glueapplication apparatus including a main body and a plurality of movableglue nozzles movably connected to the body, and applying with themovable glue nozzles an amount of glue in a pattern to at least aportion of the substrate material by moving the movable glue nozzlesover the substrate material. Such a method may include one or some ofthe following, in any possible combination: wherein the glue applicationapparatus includes at least one glue nozzle secured immovably to themain body (with or without the movable glue nozzles of the precedingsentence), the method including applying with the at least one gluenozzle immovably secured to the main body at least one shearable gluebead to the substrate material so that shearing along a length of the atleast one shearable glue bead produces separate sections of thescreening material; applying the at least one shearable glue bead to thesubstrate material, and shearing the substrate material along a lengthof the at least one shearable glue bead; wherein the at least oneshearable glue bead is sheared into two bead portions, each bead portionat an edge of a resulting separate section of the screening material;and/or continuously moving the substrate material beneath the glueapplication apparatus (e.g. at a rate of between 6 inches a minute to 50feet a minute or between five and thirty feet a minute).

[0137] The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for making a screen for avibratory separator, the method including placing at least one layer ofsubstrate material below a glue application apparatus, the glueapplication apparatus including a main body and a plurality of movableglue nozzles movably connected to the body, applying with the movableglue nozzles an amount of glue in a pattern to at least a portion of thelayer of substrate material by moving the movable glue nozzles over theat least one layer of screening material, wherein the glue applicationapparatus includes at least one glue nozzle secured immovably to themain body, applying at least one shearable glue bead having a length tothe substrate material, wherein the at least one glue nozzle is aplurality of spaced-apart stationary glue nozzles, each for applying ashearable glue bead to the substrate material, the method furtherincluding applying a plurality of spaced-apart shearable glue beads tothe substrate material, resulting in a glue pattern member, separatingthe resulting glue pattern member from the substrate and applying it toscreening material, shearing the screening material along the length ofeach of the plurality of spaced-apart shearable glue beads producing aplurality of separate sections of screening material, wherein each ofthe plurality of spaced-apart shearable glue beads is sheared into twobead portions, each bead portion at an edge of a resulting separatesection of the screening material.

[0138]FIG. 24C shows a screen assembly 100 according to the presentinvention which has screening material 102 (FIG. 24B) secured onto atubular frame 104 (FIG. 24A). In other aspects, the frame 104 isdeleted. In other aspects the frame 104 is deleted and a hookstrip isconnected to each of two spaced-apart sides of the screening material102. The screening material is any multi-layer screen according to thepresent invention with two, three or more layers glued together asdescribed herein according to the present invention. The screeningmaterial 102 and the tubular frame 104 are encapsulated with a powderedepoxy in a semi-cured state. The frame 104 and the screen material 102are placed on a heated platen. The currently semi-cured powdered epoxyis heated to a flowable state (e.g. to 300 degrees F. −500 degrees F.).The screen material 102 area adjacent to the frame is thus encapsulatedin the powdered epoxy. After about 5 to 10 minutes of heat and pressure(e.g. about 2250 to 400 p.s.i.) the screen material 102 and frame 104are removed and allowed to cool down to ambient room temperature. Thecured powdered epoxy encapsulates the screen material, adjacent to theframe and the frame forming a unitary structure. Coating thickness toachieve good encapsulation, in certain aspects, is between 20 and 40mils.

[0139] The tubular frame 104 has a plurality of crossmembers 106 thatextend between and whose ends are connected to sides 107, 108 of theframe 104. End members 103, 105 are at the ends of the frame 104. Thetubular frame 104 and its parts may be made of hollow or solid beams,tubes, bars, or rods of metal (e.g. steel, aluminum, zinc, stainlesssteel and/or alloys of any of these), plastic, or fiberglass. Metaland/or plastic parts may be welded together.

[0140] In one particular aspect the frame 104 is made of hollow squarecross-section tubes 103, 104, 107, 108 with a 0.766 inch squarecross-section and round cross-section tubes 106 with a 0.601 square inchcross-section. The screen assembly 100 (and the frame 104) may have anysuitable desired length and width. In one aspect the screening materialis made of strands of 304, or 316 stainless steel and the frame is madeof carbon steel; thus, the frame does not expand as much as thescreening material during a heating step during which epoxy is beingapplied and the setting epoxy holds the stainless steel strands in anexpanded state so the screening material, upon cooling of the screenassembly, is held in tension 5 over the frame 104.

[0141] In one aspect the screening material is bonded to the frame witha powdered epoxy material. The frame is heated then dipped into afluidized bed of the powder which completely encapsulates the frame in asemi-cured state and, in one particular aspect, with a thickness ofabout 35 mils. The frame and screening material are put on a heatedplaten with the screening material (in one case three layers 170×105mesh, 105×64 mesh and 19 mesh glued together with a method according tothe present invention) below the frame. Upon heating to about 450degrees F., the powdered adhesive is heated and flows down over thewires of the screening material. In one aspect the wires are partiallycoated and in another they are, preferably, completely encapsulated withthe adhesive. The frame with the screening material on it is left on theheated platen until the coating is cured, being heated when it iscuring. In one aspect the coating encapsulates the frame.

[0142]FIG. 25 shows a glue bead pattern 110 made by a machine accordingto the present invention with two moving manifolds, each with aplurality (in one aspect, sixteen) of spaced-apart glue dispensingnozzles. The manifolds are moved across the screening material (fromleft to right in FIG. 25) dispensing beads of moisture-cure hot meltglue. The dark lines 112 represent a glue bead applied by the gluedispensers of a first manifold and the open lines 114 represent a gluebead applied by the glue dispensers of a second manifold. The screeningmaterial is moving beneath the moving manifolds and, thus, the patternshown in FIG. 25 is achieved. Specific machines and methods useful inproducing such a pattern are described above and in the applicationentitled “Methods and Machines For Making Glued Shale Shaker Screens”filed on even date herewith. In one particular embodiment of a gluepattern as shown in FIG. 25, the pattern is applied on coarse mesh, e.g.about 19 mesh, about 50 inches wide, with the total pattern width beingabout 49 inches. The coarse mesh is unrolled continuously from a roll ofabout 600 feet in length (although the use of shorter and of longerrolls is within the scope of this invention) and moved continuously pastand beneath the glue manifolds. The manifolds in this particularembodiment move about 1.46875 inches back and forth and the distancebetween two nodes n is about 1.90 inches. The nodes themselves, whichcan be any desired length, are about 0.20 inches long in this particularembodiment. In certain aspects, the hot melt glue is sufficientlyviscous that it remains on top of the mesh or screening layer to whichit is applied without falling away from it so a pattern is maintainedand multiple layers can be glued together.

[0143] FIGS. 26A-28G are top views of glue patterns according to thepresent invention. In certain aspects such glue patterns are applied bymethods and machines described herein and in the application entitled“Methods and Machines For Making Glued Shale Shaker Screens” co-ownedherewith, fully incorporated herein for all purposes, appended hereto,and the application for patent with respect to which was filed on thesame date as the application for the patent on the present invention. Itis to be understood that the patterns shown are repeated across anentire surface of screening material and that the bead width, nodelength, node width, and intersection dimensions may be any desireddimensions, length, width, and/or height.

[0144]FIG. 26A shows a glue pattern 120 which includes undulating gluebead lines 121, 122 with crests 123 of the glue bead line 121superimposed on similar crests 125 of the glue bead line 122. Thus atthe location of this superimposition there is more glue present thanthere is at other places in the glue bead lines 121, 122; thus thesepoints of superimposition are stronger than other points along theseglue bead lines. AS shown in FIG. 26B, there is significantly more glueat locations 129 of intersection of glue bead lines 127, 128 and thelocations of intersection have a distinct oval or elliptical shape.

[0145]FIG. 26C shows a pattern 120 like that in FIG. 25; but in FIG. 26Dthe crests or nodes of glue bead lines 131, 132 of a pattern 133 areoverlapped or superimposed so that generally circular (as viewed fromabove) intersection locations 134 are formed.

[0146] FIGS. 26E-26G illustrate glue bead patterns 135, 136, 137, 138and 139 respectively, formed by intersecting glue bead lines from twospaced-apart glue-dispensing manifolds and/or glue dispensing nozzlesaccording to the present invention. Of course it is within the scope ofthis invention to produce glue bead patterns with three, four or morespaced-apart manifolds of glue dispensers.

[0147] FIGS. 27A-27D illustrate glue bead patterns according to thepresent invention applicable to screening material by methods andmachines according to the present invention. A pattern 140, FIG. 27A, inone particular embodiment, has a distance “a” between patternintersection points of about 1.46875 inches and a distance “b” betweenpattern intersection points of about 2.9 inches. As shown in FIG. 28A,(and as is true for any glue bead pattern disclosed herein) the pattern140 may be turned ninety degrees for application to screening material.Also any screen assembly made with any pattern disclosed herein may havefluid introduced to any side of any such screen assembly.

[0148] A pattern 142, FIG. 27B, in one particular embodiment, has adistance “c” between pattern intersection points of about 1.9 inches anda distance “d” between pattern intersection points of about threeinches. As shown in FIG. 28B, the pattern 142 may be turned ninetydegrees for application to screening material.

[0149] As shown in FIG. 27C a pattern 144 according to the presentinvention has glue bead lines that do not intersect. A distance “e”, inone particular embodiment, between lines is about 1 {fraction (19/32)}inches. FIG. 28C shows that the pattern 144 may be turned ninety degreesif desired.

[0150]FIG. 27D shows a pattern 146 according to the present 5 inventionwhich has non-intersecting glue bead lines. A distance “f”, in oneparticular embodiment, between lines is about 3 {fraction (1/16)}inches. FIG. 28D shows the pattern 146 turned ninety degrees.

[0151] FIGS. 29A-29K are top views of glue bead patterns 150-160,respectively, according to the present invention.

[0152] Any glue bead pattern shown herein may, according to the presentinvention, be produced with bead lines overlapping to formintersections, e.g. like those of FIGS. 26A-26D.

[0153]FIG. 30A shows a screen 210 according to the present inventionwith a lower base, support or frame 212, three undulating mesh screens214 on and/or bonded to the frame 212, and an upper mesh or screen 216.The screens 214 may themselves be mechanically connected together and/orbonded together, e.g. with epoxy, welding, and/or sintering. Rubberstrips, plastic strips tape, cushion or cushions 218 are positionedbetween the screen 214 and the upper screen 216. The strip(s) orcushion(s) are optional. As shown the strip(s), tape(s), or cushion(s)218 are secured to the screen 214 (or to crests thereof), but it iswithin the scope of this invention to secure them (or some of them) tothe screen 216.

[0154] To effect such securement any suitable glue, epoxy, weld, and/orsintering may be employed. The frame 212 may be any suitable known base,frame or support.

[0155] It is within the scope of this invention for the screen 214 to beany known screen, mesh, screens, meshes, or combination thereof,mechanically connected together and/or bonded together, unbonded, orbonded at only certain locations and with any known shape as viewedeither from above or on end (as in FIG. 30). It is within the scope ofthis invention for the upper screen 216 to be any known screen, mesh,screens, meshes, or combination thereof, connected and/or bondedtogether or unbonded, and with any known shape. As shown in FIG. 30B,the screen 214 is three mesh screens bonded together with coarser meshon the bottom, medium mesh in the middle, and finer mesh on top. Thescreen 216 as shown may be a scalping screen of a mesh coarser than thefinest mesh of the screen 214 or of a multi-layer coarser mesh. Inanother aspect the screen 214 is a single screen of closely woven meshmade of any suitable material, e.g. stainless steel and/or plasticmaterial and the screen 216 is a single screen of coarser mesh made ofany suitable material (e.g. but not limited to stainless steel and/orplastic), with the screen 214 on a metal or plastic frame or support.Alternatively or additionally, instead of the frame 212 any knownperforated plate, strip, or series of straps or strips may be used. Aseries of strips is not legally equivalent to a perforated plate.

[0156] In one aspect the strips 18 are fused plastic strips aligned withpeaks of the undulating fine mesh. Such strips may be made of rubber(e.g. nitrile) or plastic, e.g. polypropylene, to inhibit or preventabrasion of the finer meshes. Such strips can be glued to the bottom ofthe screen 216 and/or the screen 214. Also the screen 216 can be gluedto the screen 214.

[0157]FIG. 31 shows a screen 220 like the screen 210, but without thecushion members 218. A scalping screen 226 is secured at points 227 to ascreen 224 on a base, frame, or support 222. The screens 224, 226 may bein any of the forms discussed above for the screens 214, 216,respectively and the base, frame, or support 222 may have any of theforms or alternatives discussed above for the base, frame, or support212. The screen 226 may be secured to the screen 224 in any suitableway, including but not limited to with glue, epoxy, fused plastic and/orby welding and/or sintering.

[0158] The present invention, therefore, provides in certain aspects avibratory shaker system with a basket for mounting at least one screenfor screening fluid introduced thereon, vibrator apparatus connected tothe basket for vibrating the basket and the at least one screen, the atleast one screen like any screen disclosed herein.

[0159]FIG. 32 shows screening material according to the presentinvention glued together by any apparatus and/or method according to thepresent invention. The screening material 230 has been corrugated. It iswithin the scope of this invention to corrugate screening material madeaccording to the present invention for use in any known so-called “threedimensional” screen or screen assembly. One, two, three, four or morecombined layers of screening material may be corrugated using any knownmethod and/or apparatus. Such corrugating may be done before or afterthe curing of glue used to glue layers together.

[0160]FIG. 33 shows a screen assembly SC according to the presentinvention which has at least one layer of screen material L and a gluepattern that includes sub-patterns PA, PB and PC. Although only portionsof the sub-patterns are shown, it is to be understood that they extendfrom one side of the screen assembly SC to the other and that differentsub-patterns have abutting edges so that substantially all of the area(as viewed in FIG. 33 of the screen assembly SC, except for outerboundaries) is covered by the sub-patterns.

[0161] As shown in FIG. 33 fluid introduced to the screen assembly SCflows first to the sub-pattern PA area, then on to the sub-pattern PBarea, then to the sub-pattern PC area, and the separated material flowsoff the screen assembly SL (to the bottom of the drawing sheet as shownin FIG. 33). The sub-pattern PA has diamonds that are smaller thandiamonds of the sub-pattern PB; and

[0162] the diamonds of the sub-pattern PB are smaller than diamonds ofthe sub-pattern PC. Solids on top of the screen assembly SC will tend tomove more slowly across the sub-pattern PA area than over thesub-pattern PB area; and solids on top of the screen assembly SC willtend to move more slowly over the sub-pattern PB area than over thesub-pattern PC area. Alternatively (as is true with any screen assemblyaccording to the present invention with any screen assembly according tothe present invention with two, three or more sub-pattern areasaccording to the present invention with a length of screening materialbetween portions of a glue pattern) fluid can be introduced first ontothe sub-pattern PC area to flow over the sub-pattern PB area, then tothe sub-pattern PA area, and then material on top of the screen assemblySL exits at the edge (top edge as viewed in FIG. 33) of the sub-patternPA area.

[0163] Although diamonds are shown in FIG. 33, any glue patterndisclosed herein may be used with larger or smaller distances betweenglue portions—larger distances for speeding up solids moving across thescreen assembly and smaller distances for slowing the solids movement.Although three sub-pattern areas are shown, two, four or more may beused on any screen assembly according to the present invention. Also,any part of a screen's area may have any sub-pattern; sub-patterns neednot extend from one side of a screen assembly to the other.

[0164] FIGS. 34A-34C illustrate a set of three screen assemblies S1, S2,and S3 according to the present invention, each with at least one layerL1, L2, L3, respectively, of screening material and each with a similarglue pattern, yet with a difference in distance between glue portions ofthe glue patterns. Such a set (or any two) of the screens S1-S3 may beused on a single vibratory separator or shale shaker when differentfluid/solids residence time on top of a screen are desired. Materialand/or solids will tend to move slowest across the screen assembly S1with its glue pattern P1 and fastest across the screen assembly S3 withits glue pattern P3. Material and/or solids will move slower acrossscreen assembly S2 with its glue pattern P2 than across the screenassembly S3.

[0165] FIGS. 35A-35D show a screen assembly 240 according to the presentinvention which has a layer or layers 241 of screening material gluedtogether according to the present invention with hot meltmoisture-curing glue. Side hookstrips 242 provide for mounting of thescreen assembly 240 in an appropriate vibratory separator or shaleshaker.

[0166]FIG. 36A shows a support 250 according to the present inventionfor supporting one or more layers of screening material, including, butnot limited to a layer with a glue pattern (any herein) described hereinor two, three, four or more layers of screening material glued togetheras disclosed herein.

[0167] The support 250 has two pairs 251, 252 of opposed spaced-apartsides and a plurality of cross-members 253 extending between andattached to the sides 251. Notches may be cut in parts of the sides 251to receive and hold ends of the cross-members 253.

[0168] The sides 251, 252 may be made by cutting from a solid sheet orplate a sub-rectangle out of the complete rectangle (with outerboundaries like those of the support 251, FIG. 36A). Corner cuts arethen made and portions 254 at each end and 251 a at each side are bentor folded down. One or more dimples 255 projecting downwardly from aside or end raise that end with respect to a rail or other mountingstructure of a shaker or separator to facilitate correct emplacement ofan adjoining screen's end under the end of a screen assembly with thesupport 250.

[0169]FIG. 37A shows a support 260 according to the present inventionfor supporting a layer of screening material with a glue pattern as anydisclosed herein. The support 260 is made from a sheet or plate and hasa pattern 264 of openings across its surface. A plurality ofcross-members extend from one side of the support 260 to the other. Apiece 265 at one end of the support 260 has an outer end that projectsoutwardly from the support 260 and a piece 266 has a shoulder part 266 aagainst which an outer end (like the end of the piece 265) of anotherscreen can be positioned. Layer 267 indicates any screening material ormultiple layers thereof according to the present invention or asreferred to herein.

[0170]FIG. 38 shows a perforated plate 270 according to the presentinvention with a pattern of openings 271 across its surface and with aplurality of optional edge holes 272 which facilitate bonding of theplate to other structures and/or bonding of screening material to theplate.

[0171] In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present inventionand the embodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appendedclaims are well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the endsset forth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter described,shown and claimed without departing from the spirit and the scope ofthis invention. It is realized that changes are possible within thescope of this invention and it is further intended that each element orstep recited in any of the following claims is to be understood asreferring to all equivalent elements or steps. The following claims areintended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible inwhatever form its principles may be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A screen assembly for a shale shaker, the screenassembly made by an automated method, the automated method comprisingapplying glue in a glue pattern to at least one layer of screeningmaterial useful for screening fluid introduced to a shale shaker, saidapplying done by powered moving mechanical glue application means. 2.The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the glue is heatedmoisture-curing hot melt glue.
 3. The screen assembly of claim 2 whereinmoisture is applied to glue in the glue pattern following application ofthe moisture-curing hot melt glue to the at least one layer of screeningmaterial.
 4. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the automated methodfurther comprising moving with powered mechanical screen movementapparatus the at least one layer of screening material beneath thepowered moving mechanical glue application means.
 5. The screen assemblyof claim 1 wherein the at least one layer of screening material is threelayers of screening material.
 6. The screen assembly of claim 1 whereinthe powered moving mechanical glue application means includes apatterned roller having a glue pattern thereon for applying glue in saidglue pattern to the at least one layer of screening material.
 7. Thescreen assembly of claim 1 wherein the method includes moving at leastone glue dispensing manifold with a plurality of spaced-apart gluedispensing nozzles above the at least one layer of screening material toapply the glue pattern.
 8. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein themethod includes moving two spaced-apart glue dispensing manifolds eachwith a plurality of spaced-apart glue dispensing nozzles above the atleast one layer of screening material to apply the glue pattern.
 9. Thescreen assembly of claim 1 wherein the screen assembly is mounted onscreen assembly support means.
 10. The screen assembly of claim 9wherein the screen assembly support means is from the group consistingof frame, strip support, perforated sheet metal, and perforated plate.11. The screen assembly of claim 1 further comprising hookstripapparatus on each of two spaced-apart sides of the screen assembly. 12.A screen assembly made by a method for making a screen assembly for avibratory separator, the method comprising moving with screen movementapparatus at least one layer of screening material below a glueapplication apparatus, the glue application apparatus including a mainbody and a plurality of movable glue nozzles movably connected to themain body, moving the movable glue nozzles with nozzle movementapparatus above the at least one layer of screening material, applyingwith the movable glue nozzles an amount of glue flowing from the gluenozzles in a pattern to at least a portion of the at least one layer ofscreening material, and allowing the glue to cure.
 13. The screenassembly of claim 12 wherein the glue application apparatus includes atleast one glue nozzle secured immovably to a main body, the methodfurther comprising applying with the at least one glue nozzle securedimmovably to the main body at least one shearable glue bead having alength to the screening material so that shearing the screening materialalong the length of the at least one shearable glue bead producesseparate sections of the screening material.
 14. The screen assembly ofclaim 13 wherein the at least one nozzle secured immovably to the mainbody is a plurality of spaced-apart glue nozzles, each for applying aseparate shearable glue bead to the screening material, the methodfurther comprising applying a plurality of spaced-apart shearable gluebeads to the screening material.
 15. The screen assembly of claim 12wherein the method further comprises continuously moving the at leastone layer of screening material beneath the glue application apparatus.16. The screen assembly of claim 12 wherein a rate of movement of the atleast one layer of screening material beneath the glue applicationapparatus is between 5 feet per minute to 30 feet per minute.
 17. Thescreen assembly of claim 12 wherein the glue is heated moisture-curinghot melt glue.
 18. The screen assembly of claim 17 wherein the methodfurther comprises applying moisture to the heated moisture-curing hotmelt glue to facilitate curing of it.
 19. The screen assembly of claim12 wherein the method further comprises tensioning the at least onelayer of screening material below the glue application apparatus. 20.The screen assembly of claim 12 wherein the method further comprisesrolling the at least one layer of screening material in a roll followingapplication of glue thereto.
 21. The screen assembly of claim 20 whereinthe method further comprises positioning separator material with respectto at least one layer of screening material to prevent undesired gluingtogether of screening material within the roll.
 22. The screen assemblyof claim 12 wherein the method further comprises combining at least oneadditional layer of screening material with the at least one layer ofscreening material.
 23. The screen assembly of claim 22 wherein the atleast one additional layer of screening material is combined with the atleast one layer of screening material following application of glue tothe at least one layer of screening material.
 24. The screen assembly ofclaim 12 wherein the at least one layer of screening material is a layerof coarse mesh.
 25. The screen assembly of claim 12 wherein the patternincludes a plurality of intersections of lines of glue.
 26. The screenassembly of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises corrugatingthe at least one layer of screening material.
 27. The screen assembly ofclaim 26 wherein the method further comprises corrugating the at leastone layer of screening material.
 28. The screen assembly of claim 12wherein the glue application apparatus includes at least one glue nozzlesecured immovably to a main body, the method further comprising applyingwith the at least one glue nozzle secured immovably to the main body atleast one shearable glue bead across a width of the screening materialso that shearing the screening material along the length of the at leastone shearable glue bead produces separate sections of the screeningmaterial.
 29. The screen assembly of claim 28 wherein the at least onenozzle secured immovably to the main body is a plurality of spaced-apartglue nozzles, each for applying a separate shearable glue bead to thescreening material, the method further comprising applying a pluralityof spaced-apart shearable glue beads to the screening material acrossthe width thereof.
 30. A screen assembly made by a method for making ascreen assembly for a vibratory separator, the method comprising movingwith screen movement apparatus at least one layer of screening materialbelow a glue application apparatus, the glue application apparatusincluding a main body a plurality of movable glue nozzles movablyconnected to the body, moving the movable glue nozzles with nozzlemovement apparatus above the at least one layer of screening material,applying with the movable glue nozzles an amount of glue flowing fromthe glue nozzles in a pattern to at least a portion of the at least onelayer of screening material, and allowing the glue to cure, wherein theglue is heated moisture-curing hot melt glue, and rolling the at leastone layer of screening material in a roll following application of gluethereto.
 31. Any invention disclosed herein.